For a second year in a row the Boyd County Lions are headed up the AA Highway to Park Hills to take on the Covington Catholic Colonels in the opening round of the 4A playoffs. Last year, the first time these two programs had seen one another on the football field in 29 years, Boyd County was sitting on a 5-5 regular season record while Cov Cath was sitting on a 8-2 regular season record. Then came round one of the playoffs, and the Colonels sent the Lions back down the AA on the short side of a 42-12 shellacking with a running clock staring less than halfway through the second quarter of the game when Cov Cath went up 35-0 over Boyd.

This year (6-4) Boyd County enters the playoffs with 1 additional regular season win, and (7-3) Cov Cath enters with 1 additional regular season loss. But does that prime things for any different outcome come Friday night?

The 2025 Lions offense has done a really nice job balancing the run and the pass. With 1,509 passing yards for 13 touchdowns with 5 interceptions during the regular season, junior quarterback Jace Manning has gone 110-189 (58.2%) passing this season and has been invaluable in the pocket for Coach Ferguson. Manning's favorite pass target is senior wideout Kaleb Kelley, who has 623 yards and 3 touchdowns on 42 catches this season. Sophomore wideout Cameron May has also tallied 438 yards and 3 touchdowns on 35 catches this season, while senior wideout Thomas Crawford has added 259 yards and 3 more touchdowns on 14 catches this season. On the ground, freshman James McDaniels has impressed as a ball carrier, rushing 63 times this season for 516 total yards (8.2 ypc) and 7 touchdowns. Sophomore Blake Sexton has also carried 60 times for 304 yards (5.1 ypc) and 12 touchdowns, while QB Jace Manning is the team's #3 rusher with 231 yards and 5 touchdowns on 72 carries (3.2 ypc). The Boyd County defense is led in solo tackles by senior linebacker Brody Castle and senior defensive end Ian Branham, but Castle has not appeared in a game since Boyd County's October 3rd win over Greenup County, a game where he recorded 2 solo tackles, 9 assisted tackles, a pick-6, and 2 more touchdowns rushing the ball on offense. Cameron May, Kaleb Kelley, and James McDaniels are next in line for solo tackles by Lions defenders, with 21, 19, and 19, respectively. The Boyd County D also had 17 forced turnovers during the regular season with 5 forced fumbles and 12 interceptions. Kaleb Kelley has 4 of the team's INTs.

Cov Cath spent last week in playoff-prep mode with a bye week in the final week of the season. Senior quarterback Cash Harney, considered one of a handful of 2025 Mr. Football Contenders, is heading into his final high school playoff run with a 1,648 yards passing 754 yards rushing and 63 yards receiving for a total 2,465 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns. At 97 completions on 148 attempts with 6 INTs, Cash is a 65.5% passer and he has 5 different receivers to pick from with 200+ yards receiving each, led by senior WR Logan Sanning with 20 catches for 346 yards and 3 TDs, senior RB Dylan Gaiser with 18 catches for 271 yards and 2 TDs, senior WR Zach Brooks with 13 catches for 268 yards and 1 TD, senior WR Donovan Bradshaw with 19 catches for 253 yards and 1 TD, and junior TE Owen Pitzer with 12 catches for 241 yards and 3 TDs. Dylan Gaiser is the team's leading rusher, with 841 yards and 18 touchdowns on 95 carries, while QB Cash Harney is just behind Gaiser in yardage with 754 yards and 9 touchdowns on 100 carries. Cov Cath's defense is led in solo tackles by sophomore LB Cash Myers with 58 total solo tackles, while seniors Logan Sanning (DB), Brady Guard (LB), and Charlie Reeves (DL) round out the top four tacklers for the team with 41, 35, and 32 solo tackles each, respectively.

What are your predictions for the game on Friday?

Series Record:

1967 Cov Cath 19 (Rasso) Boyd County (Scott) 7
1968 Boyd County (Scott) 3 Cov Cath (Lanham) 0
1969 Cov Cath (Tassini) 41 Boyd County (Scott) 0
1970 Cov Cath (Tassini) 44 Boyd County (Scott) 8
1971 Cov Cath (Tassini) 32 Boyd County (Scott) 8
1995* Cov Cath (Ray) 61 Boyd County (Bryant) 7
2024* Cov Cath (Eviston) 42 Boyd County (Ferguson) 14

* Playoffs

Cov Cath wins with running clock.

This is the time to get really excited about playing football. I'm really looking forward to these next few weeks.

Another typical first round game where the level of talent is unmatched for Boyd. 

 

Cov Cath 48

Boyd Co 7

Bump.

From Cov Cath Football Alumni on social media:

It's gameday, baby!! All You Colonels....Cov Cath starts their battle through the playoffs tonight in Park Hills against the Boyd County Lions! We need everyone to come out and cheer the Colonels onward to victory!

#RollColonels #WASTWND #Team59

? Cov Cath vs. Boyd County
? Art's Rental Field at Dennis Griffin Stadium
? 7:00pm Kickoff
? colonel-athletic-network.mixlr.com/
? www.covcath.org/athletics/tickets-and-broadcasting.cfm

Forecast for kickoff time is mostly clear and around 58°. Perfect football weather!

The Colonels playing tonight in their blue jerseys with black pants. I believe that's the first time we've ever donned that combo.

Cov Cath to receive the opening kickoff. Gaiser and Cogswell back to field the kick for the Colonels.

Boyd County with an onside kick, fielded by Cash Myers and returned one yard to the 42 yard line.

1st and 10 Colonels. 

Pitch left to Gaiser. 8 yard gain.

2nd and 2 Colonels at midfield.

Pass intended for Pitzer is tipped and falls incomplete.

3rd and 2 Colonels at the 50 yard line.

Gaiser runs up the middle for 8 yards.

1st and 10 Cov Cath at the Lions 42 yard line.

Pass to Donovan Bradshaw for a 14 yard pickup.

1st and 10 Colonels on the Boyd County 28 yard line.